stealing her madam’s jewelleries and selling them to a Mallam at Bariga for the
sum of one million naira.
The housemaid,
Freedom Maddy, her husband and the buyer of the jewelleries are currently being
quizzed by detectives attached to the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) of the
Lagos State Police Command headquarters, Ikeja, Lagos.
Parading the suspects yesterday at the Police,
Ikeja, spokesperson, Ngozi Braide, disclosed that a complaint was lodged at the
Area ‘F’ Command by one Mrs Esu Monday-David on October 3, 2012 where it was
alleged that the complainant, while looking for a house-help on September 20, 2012,
contacted one John and Joseph Obong who brought one Rejoice.
The housemaid was said to have only worked for two
days at the boss’ Maryland residence before disappearing into thin air.
Similarly, it was gathered that when the woman complained to the duo (John and
Joseph Obong) that Rejoice had run away another lady identified as Comfort also
known as Freedom Maddy was brought in.
Within five days she moved in and commenced work as
a maid. It was learnt that she ransacked her boss’ room and stole jewelleries
valued at N20 million and escaped into thin air. The matter was transferred to
the detectives attached to the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) of the Lagos
State Police Command, Ikeja on October 5, 2012; a manhunt was launched for
Comfort, with the able assistance of the Divisional Police Officer (DPO)
in-charge of Ikoyi division, Mrs Aisha Haruna, a Superintendent of Police (SP).
Luck, as it were, ran out on Comfort as she and she was arrested.
According to investigation, Comfort confessed she
took the stolen jewelleries to her husband, James Maddy and one Dennis who said
he was an agent to the complainant.
The stolen jewelleries were said to have been sold
to one Haruna Bawa, Nigerien nationale who is a gold dealer at Bariga area for
the sum of N1.3 million.
It was also gathered that members of the group and
others at large specialise in employment placement for housemaids or drivers
with fake names, addresses, fake guarantors and telephone numbers, with the
intent of stealing their employers’ vehicles and other valuables.
Interestingly, Freedom Maddy, in an encounter with
LEADERSHIP owned up to the crime. According to the 25-year old suspect, she
decided to steal her madam’s jewelleries the fifth day she was employed with
the active connivance of Dennis (Joseph Obong) who introduced her to the madam.
The Cross River State-born suspect claimed she
succeeded in gaining entry to madam’s room because she knew where she kept the
key. “Madam was away to the market the very day I ransacked her room to steal her
jewelleries. I ran away before she could return home.
I was offered the sum of N300, 000 from the
proceeds of the sale of the loot. I used my own share to pay for my elder
sister’s hospital bill when she took ill, but unfortunately, she passed on. “
Her husband, James Maddy also, admitted privy to
the stolen loot. The 30-year old man said it was his friend, Dennis who
assisted his wife in getting the job.
Hassan Bawa, 55-year old, who is the buyer of the
jewelleries, confessed he bought the loot from Dennis and James Maddy who came
to sell the items to him at Atiwale area of Bariga five months ago for the sum
of N1.3 million.
